Steve Silva Named Patriot League Player Of The Year

Nov 23, 2005

Nov. 23, 2005

WORCESTER, Mass. - Holy Cross senior tailback Steve Silva (East Providence, R.I.) has been selected as the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year, it was announced today by the conference office. He becomes the first Crusader since Tom Ciaccio in 1990 to earn Offensive Player of the Year honors, and is the first Holy Cross standout to ever be named Special Teams Player of the Year.

Silva totaled 2,134 all-purpose yards this season, rushing for 913 yards and 11 touchdowns on 189 carries, catching 54 passes for 364 yards and a score, returning 19 kickoffs for 462 yards and a touchdown, and bringing back 22 punts for 395 yards and two scores. He leads in the nation in all-purpose yards, while ranking second in punt returns, 12th in scoring, 26th in kickoff returns, 34th in receptions and 35th in rushing yards. Silva also leads the Patriot League in all-purpose yards, receptions and punt returns, while standing second in scoring and kickoff returns, and third in rushing. Silva finishes his career ranked in the Holy Cross all-time top 10 in rushing touchdowns (34, second), all-purpose yards (5,153, second), total touchdowns scored (38, third), rushing carries (615, third), points scored (228, third), rushing yards (2,646, third) and receptions (154, fourth).

Cannon earns All-Patriot League honors for the second straight year, after being a second team all-conference selection in 2004. He started all 11 games for the Crusaders at center this season, leading an offensive line which paved the way for Holy Cross to rush for 127.6 yards per game, while supplying pass protection for the Crusaders to throw for 202.2 yards per contest. Dating back to the 2003 season, Cannon started the final 32 games of his Holy Cross career at center.

Dugan finished the 2004 campaign with 28 receptions for 373 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He easily led all Patriot League tight ends in receiving this season, as no one else in the league had more than 18 catches or 163 receiving yards. He also developed into a key blocker along the offensive line which allowed Holy Cross to average 28.8 points and 329.8 total yards per game. Over the course of his Holy Cross career, Dugan totaled 45 receptions for 575 yards and five touchdowns.

Gough ranked fourth on the team with 45 total tackles this year, including 40 solo stops and three tackles for loss. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions for 53 yards and a touchdown, while ranking second on the squad with six pass breakups. In addition, Gough had nine kickoff returns for 305 yards and a touchdown, good for an average of 33.9 yards per return. Over the course of his career as a Crusader, Gough now has 93 total tackles (81 solo), four interceptions and 14 pass breakups, in addition to returning 24 kickoffs for 738 yards (30.8 yard average).

Gruber led the team with 598 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns this season, while averaging 16.2 yards on his 37 catches. He also ranked second on the team in scoring with 60 points, including one rushing touchdown. In addition, Gruber led the Patriot League in touchdown catches, while placing fifth in the conference in both receiving yards and scoring. He finishes his Holy Cross career with 122 receptions for 1,871 yards and 22 touchdowns. Gruber is the Crusaders' all-time leader in touchdown receptions, while ranking fifth in receiving yards and ninth in total catches.

McManaway punted 51 times for 1,837 yards this season, good for an average of 36.0 yards per punt. He placed 12 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line, while forcing 14 fair catches and allowing the opposition to average only 7.0 yards on 19 punt returns all year. In three seasons as the Crusaders' starting punter, McManaway has now punted 155 times for 5,343 yards. He has averaged 34.5 yards per punt during his collegiate career, dropping 27 kicks inside the 20-yard line.

Schoepfer started all 11 games for the Crusaders at right guard this season, as part an offensive line which paved the way for Holy Cross to rush for 127.6 yards per game, while supplying pass protection for the Crusaders to throw for 202.2 yards per contest. He has now started 22 consecutive games for Holy Cross on the offensive line, and has started a total of 24 contests during his career as a Crusader.

Holy Cross concluded the 2005 season with an overall record of 6-5, and a 3-3 mark in the Patriot League. The Crusaders posted a winning record for the first time since 2000, and only the second time since 1992.

2005 Patriot League Football All-League Teams & Major Award Winners

Offensive Player of the Year - Steve Silva, Holy Cross
Defensive Player of the Year - Jared Nepa, Colgate
Special Teams Player of the Year - Steve Silva, Holy Cross
Rookie of the Year - Jordan Scott, Colgate
Coach of the Year - Dick Biddle, Colgate